Panhandle Research and Extension Center 1910-2010

A Century of Change and Progress In Service to Western Nebraska About this Booklet As the Panhandle Research and Extension Center begins its second century of service to the citizens of Nebraska, we are also preparing to celebrate the accomplishments of the first 100 years by those who came before us. The purpose of this publication is to historically archive the progress made since the 50th Anniver- sary in 1960, and to serve as a time capsule pertaining to the current programs located in Scottsbluff for future generations. We intend to present a brief snapshot of the faculty and staff and document some of the major areas of research and extension activities being conducted in 2010.

Editors: Dave Ostdiek, Bob Harveson, Dean Yonts, Bob Wilson, Tom Holman

Systems Specialist; TBA, Feedlot Nutrition and Management Table of contents Specialist. Centennial Celebration Program...... 3 Research Support: History of the Panhandle Center...... 4, 5 Research Feedlot Manager: Stephanie Furman. Farm Manager: The Panhandle District...... 6 Gene Kizzire. Research Analyst: Ann Koehler. Research Coor- Photos...... 7, 8, 9 dinators: Jim Margheim, John Thomas. Post-Doctorate Research Plant Pathology...... 10, 11 Associate: Gustavo Sbatella. Research Technicians: Clay Carlson, Community Development...... 12 Dick Gatch, Nabor Guzman, Susan Harvey, Alison Hazen, Lori Livestock Research...... 13 Howlett, Bob Hawley, Les Kampbell, Randy Meter, Dennis Mo- Horticulture...... 14, 15 rimoto, Kathy Nielsen, Rex Nielsen, Trish Nielsen, Rick Patrick, Doug Pieper, Dave Reichert. Feedlot management and nutrition...... 16 Range Management...... 17 Administrative and Support Staff: Weed Science...... 18, 19 Sharon Holman, Administrative Assistant; Penny Marsh, Office Potatoes...... 20, 21, 22 Assistant, Pat Martin, Office Assistant; Marilyn Miller, Account- ing Clerk; Gordon Moeller, Building Services Technician; Robert Machinery Systems...... 23, 24 O’Neill, Facilities Manager; David Ostdiek, Communications/ Soil fertility and nutrition...... 25, 26 Technology; Peggy Penrose, Computer Systems Support; Steve Knorr-Holden Plot...... 27, 28, 29 Runion, Custodian; Barb Schlothauer, University of Nebraska Irrigation...... 30, 31 Foundation; Karen Schultz, Business Manager; Sandy Scoggan, Dry Bean Breeding...... 32, 33 Custodian; Jeanne Yeoman, Receptionist. Dryland cropping systems...... 34, 35 Entomology...... 36, 37 Nutrition...... 38 Acknowledgements: Alternative Crops Breeding:...... 39 Funding Acknowledgements: Oregon Trail Foundation, University of Nebraska Foundation. Source acknowledgements: Faculty and Staff: Elvin F. Frolik and Ralston J. Graham, College of Agriculture District Director: Dr. Linda Boeckner. of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: The First Century. Published in 1987 by the Board of Regents of the University Specialists and Educators: of Nebraska. Dr. Jeff Bradshaw, Entomology Specialist; Paul Burgener, Ag Profile of Progress: Serving Agriculture 50 Years. Scotts Bluff Economics Research Analyst; Dr. Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Experiment Station anniversary booklet published in 1960 Entrepreneur/Business Development Specialist; Dr. Lisa Franzen- by the editors of the University of Nebraska Department of Castle, Nutrition and Wellness Specialist; Dr. Bob Harveson, Information at the College of Agriculture. Plant Pathology Specialist; Dr. Gary Hergert, Soil/Nutrient Man- New Horizons for Agriculture in Western Nebraska. Published in agement Specialist; Dr. Karla Jenkins, Cow-Calf Production/Range 1956 on the occasion of the dedication of the Administration Management Specialist; Dr. Drew Lyon, Dryland Cropping Systems and Laboratory Building at the Scotts Bluff Agricultuural Specialist; Dr. Alexander Pavlista, Crop Physiology/Potato Special- Experiment Station (later named the Lionel Harris Building) ist; Dr. Dipak Santra, Alternative Crop Breeding Specialist; Steve Sibray, Groundwater Geologist; John Smith, Machinery Engi- neering Systems Specialist; Gary Stone, Extension Educator; Dr. On the cover: Carlos Urrea, Dry Bean Breeding Specialist; Dr. Robert Wilson, The view of the original office of the Scotts Bluff Ex- Weed Science Specialist; C. Dean Yonts, Irrigation Engineering perimental Substation on July 14, 1910.

2 Program Centennial Celebration Schedule July 24, 2010

7:30 - 9:00 a.m.: ...... Pancake breakfast 8:30 - 10:50 a.m.: ...... Exhibits and field tours 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.:...... Welcome, introductions and centennial celebration 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.:...... Lunch 12:30 - 2:50 p.m.:...... Exhibits and field tours 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.:...... Watermelon feed

Field Tours Field Machinery — From Horses to Satellites Changes in Sugarbeet Production Over the Last Century Irrigation developments: What’s Changed and What Hasn’t

Exhibits on the Lawn Potato Types and Nebraska History The Food Preservation Journey A Century of Advancements in Plant Pathology From County Agent to Educator -- My, How We’ve Changed Beef: Improving Cattlemen’s Retail Value 4-H Celebrate the Past…Meet the Future Changes in the Feedlot Industry and Range Management Insect Management and Pesticide Safety Then and Now A Century of Small Grains Development Dry Bean Breeding Program A Century of Soil, Fertilizer and Corn Research

3 A brief history of the Panhandle Center: 100 Years of Research (And Extension)

By David Ostdiek, Communications/Technology Associate Panhandle Research and Extension Center

The Scotts Bluff Experimental Substation was established in 1910 so agricultural research could be conducted on irrigated crops under local conditions. Starting with 160 acres and several buildings, the station has changed, expanded and moved, eventually becoming the Panhandle Research and Extension Center. Land was provided by the Bureau of Reclamation, which turned it over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1910 construction began at the original location 6 miles east of Mitchell (about 4 miles north of Scottsbluff on Highway 71, then 1 mile west on Experiment Farm Road). The plots were managed by the USDA until 1948, when the land and management were turned over to the state, and subsequently the university. In 1956 the experiment station moved into a newly constructed building, later named the Lionel Harris Building. In 1975 the station moved to its current location, the former site of Hiram Scott College. But the original site – now known as the Mitchell ag lab – is still an integral part of the research program. The mission of the Panhandle Research and Ex- tension Center has broadened to include not only research, but also extension – sharing with the public what is learned through research. From the earliest days to the present, much of the work done at the Scotts Bluff Station/Panhandle Research and Extension Center has been related to irrigated agriculture. Dryland agricultural research is performed at another unit administered by UNL in the Panhandle, the High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney. Today the Panhandle Research and Extension Center has 14 faculty members, most with joint research and extension appointments, representing the following disciplines: beef nutrition and feedlot management, business develop- The three buildings that have housed the Panhandle ment and entrepreneurship, cow-calf production and range Research and Extension Center during its 100 years: management, entomology, weed science, irrigation manage- From top, the original buildings in 1915; the Lionel ment, machinery systems, plant pathology, soil and nutrient Harris Building, constructed in 1956; and the J.G. El- management, alternative crops breeding, dry bean breeding, liott building in 1975. potato production, crop physiology, hydrogeology, nutrition and wellness, and dryland cropping systems. In addition, Acreage grew to 320 acres, in addition to 800 acres of ex- there are technicians and administrative and support staff. perimental rangeland several miles north in Sioux County. In 1956, when Lionel Harris was superintendent, Panhandle Center’s Three Locations a new administration and laboratory building was dedicated The Panhandle Research and Extension Center has on the same site. The 8,600-square-foot Lionel Harris Build- been housed in three different buildings. At the original ing housed an auditorium, office space, five research labora- site, an office and laboratory had been built, in addition to a tories, and offices for administration, and research and ex- barn, grain bin, machine shed and other structures, by July tension faculty. 1910. By 1912, four houses had been constructed for station The Harris building, several other buildings (con- personnel. Along the way, other improvements were made. structed later), and 210 acres of experimental plots (includ- 4 Panhandle Center history, Continued ing the Knorr-Holden plots, planted to corn continuously since 1912) are still located at the Mitchell site. The Pan- Superintendents and Directors: handle Research Feedlot, built in the 1970s and expanded to Fritz Knorr a state-of-the-art facility in 2007, also is located there. Superintendent 1910-16 The Harris building served as the headquarters for the research station until 1975. It also housed the Veterinary James A. Holden Diagnostic Lab until its closure several years ago. Today it is Superintendent, 1917-34 used by a variety of programs for laboratory space, storage Lionel Harris and other purposes. In the future, it could be used to house Acting Superintendent 1935-38, Superintendent 1938-71 visiting scientists and graduate students. The potential is be- John Weihing ing studied. Superintendent and District Extension Director 1971-81 In the early 1970s, a unique opportunity to move District Director of Research and Extension, 1981-83 to a larger, newer building – at no cost – presented itself. Hiram Scott College, a liberal arts college created in 1965 Robert D. Fritschen by Scottsbluff-area businessmen, closed in 1972 for lack District Director 1984-86 and 1987-91 of students. The Scottsbluff-Gering Payroll Development Burton A. Weichenthal Foundation offered to give more than 200 acres of land and Interim District Director, 1986-87 and 1991-94 improvements to the university. The headquarters building Charles A. (Chuck) Hibberd was named the J.G. Elliott Building, after a Scottsbluff busi- District Director 1994-2007 ness leader who served on the NU Board of Regents from 1952-74. Linda S. Boeckner The Elliott building has gone through several reno- District Director, 2008 - vations and remodeling, and as of 2010 it housed offices for faculty members, as well as administrative and support staff. The building also has laboratories, an auditorium and sev- Nebraska. It includes examples of both high and low inten- eral meeting rooms with satellite and internet connections. sity landscaping and showcases the diversity of plants that Greenhouses, a maintenance building and equipment and can be successfully established and grown in the High Plains storage sheds have been constructed on the grounds. region. Many of the collections are devoted to plants or land- The Scotts Bluff County Extension Office also is scaping techniques that have low moisture requirements and/ located in the Elliott Building, as are the University of Ne- braska Medical Center College of Nursing West Nebraska or need limited maintenance. Division and University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Business Points of interest include the ornamental grass, Development Center. shrub rose, Great Plants of the Great Plains, Monument Val- ley Iris Society, and Diana Harms Cottonwood collections, The D.A. Murphy Arboretum and Library as well as areas highlighting alternatives to turf and the use A $90,000 endownment to the University of Ne- of berms and locally adapted trees, shrubs, and other plants braska Foundation in 1987 from the estate of D.A. Murphy, in landscaping. Collections continue to evolve to incorporate a University of Nebraska alumnus and successful regional businessman, was used to make significant improvements to new plant material and highlight emerging issues. a teaching arboretum and a library on the grounds. The Library: The D. A. Murphy Library contains The Arboretum: The D.A. Murphy Panhandle Ar- more than 3,500 titles, including scholarly journals, most boretum, 40 acres of landscaped grounds and research plots, of which are geared toward the programs at the Center. Ag- was established in January 1984 as the University of Ne- related sections include titles dealing with carious crops and braska Panhandle Arboretum. It was dedicated and became livestock produced in this area. Other sections deal with an affiliate site of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum in Au- gust 1985. It was designated a Master Arboretum by the Ne- community, family, nutrition and personal growth and devel- braska Statewide Arboretum on April 4, 1997. opment. Video and audio titles are available. The library is The arboretum plays an important role in the re- open to the public, Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 search, teaching and extension mission of the University of p.m.

5 The Panhandle District In the beginning, research was the only mission of the Scotts Bluff Experimental Substation. But it became apparent that extension work was necessary to share information with agricultural producers in western Nebraska. Today, in addition to research, The Panhandle Research and Extension Center has become the administrative headquarters of UNL Extension in the Panhandle District. The Scotts Bluff County Extension Office is located at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, and there are 11 other county-based Extension offices. A satellite research unit, the High Plains Ag Lab, located near Sidney, was established in 1970 to provide a facility for dryland agriculture reseach. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln also conducted ag research at the Northwest Agricultural Laboratory located in Box Butte County from 1929 until around 1990. For much of its existence the Northwest Ag Lab was managed by a committee based in Lincoln, but in 1967 it was made a satellite of the Panhandle Station.

County-based Extension Staff: Staff), Konni Sauder (Office Staff). Box Butte County: Bill Booker (Unit Leader/Educator), Scotts Bluff-Morrill counties: Tom Holman (Unit Leader/ Jennne Murray (Educator), Deb Kraenow (4-H Assistant), Educator), Jackie Guzman (Educator), Cathy Johnston Carol Kleinsasser (Office Staff). (Educator/4-H Coordinator), Jim Schild (Educator), Peggy Backer (4-H Assistant), Jana Schwartz (4-H Assistant), Central Sandhills: Bethany Sitz Johnston (Unit Leader/ Stacy Brown (Office Staff), Bonnie Franklin (Office Staff), Educator), Sue Pearman (Educator), Sally Sawyer (Office Pat Randolph (CYFAR Grant Coordinator), Jeannie Yeo- Staff). man (Office Staff). Cherry County: Jay Jenkins (Unit leader/Educator), Jody Sheridan County: Cindy Tusler (Unit Leader/Educator), Soester (4-H Assistant), Betty Quick (Office), Evelyn Fos- Debra Austin (4-H Assistant), Ruth Schmaltz (Office Staff), ter (Office Staff). Judy Young (Office Staff). Cheyenne-Kimball-Banner: Aaron Berger (Educator), Sioux County: Jenny Nixon (Unit Leader/Educator), Aaron Karen DeBoer (Unit Leader/Educator), Connie Hancock Cross (Office Staff). (Educator), Kerry Elsen (4-H Assistant), Chanda DeMas- ters (4-H Assistant), Elsie Vogel (Office Staff). Dawes County: Scott Cotton (Unit Leader/Educator), Ja- High Plains Ag Lab Staff mie Goffena (Educator), Sandy Schiaffo (Office Staff). Farm Manager: Tom Nightingale. Research Technicians: Deuel-Garden County: Carla Mahar (Unit Leader/Edu- Glen Frickel, Rob Higgins, Vernon Florke, Paul McMillen. cator), Heather Borck (Educator), Karla Poenisch (Office 6 Centennial Photos: Pictures Tell Story of 100 Years

7 Centennial Photos: Pictures Tell Story of 100 Years

8 Centennial Photos: Pictures Tell Story of 100 Years

9 Centennial Profile: Plant Pathology in Western Nebraska

By Robert M. Harveson, Extension Plant Pathologist Panhandle Research and Extension Center

Early Studies Although not officially recognized as a separate en- tity from botany until about 1920, plant pathology studies were being conducted as early as 1885, prior to the establishment of the Agricultural Experiment Station in 1887. These studies were promoted by Charles Bessey, the first Dean of the College of Agriculture. Bessey was initially hired as the first station botanist, and conducted the first work in a small greenhouse on City Campus. He additionally included plant diseases in his botany course in 1884, although the subject had probably been previously taught by the Horticulture De- partment as cryptogamic botany - later known as mycology (the study of fungi). Between 1885 and 1905 almost a dozen reports, papers, and bulletins were produced pertaining to plant diseases by Bessey and his students. Typical wilt symptoms in dry edible bean, consisting of interveinal necrosis (death) surrounded by yellow Plant Pathology in Moves to Western Nebraska borders. The inset photo shows the pink wilt pathogen Potato production became the first subject of plant variant growing in culture compared to the typical yel- disease studies in western Nebraska. In the summer of 1909 low, orange, and purple variants (inset). (prior to the establishment of the Scotts Bluff Experimen- tal Substation in 1910) a potato disease lab was set up in Northwest Agricultural Lab) in cooperation with Box Butte Alliance with the help of special legislative funds to study County with the primary purpose of studying potatoes un- storage diseases of potatoes. Work on tuber dry rot (caused der dry land conditions. After unsuccessfully working with by Fusarium trichothecioides) by Link served as his M.S. Holden at the Scotts Bluff Substation, Goss continued at the thesis in 1912, and also resulted in the publication of the Alliance field lab working with soilborne diseases such as first Research Bulletin (No. 1) of the Experiment Station. scab and root rot (Rhizoctonia) and some of the first studies Link later published a comparative physiological study of in the U.S. with virus diseases. the wilt fungus (caused by Fusarium oxysporum) with the dry-rot fungus in 1916 as Research Bulletin No. 9 (also his Expansion of Plant Pathology in Western Nebraska Ph.D. thesis). The arrival of Lionel Harris resulted in a change of During the early 1920s, both E. Mead Wilcox (Sta- philosophy for collaboration with the University of Nebras- tion Plant Pathologist) and Robert W. Goss (later Dean of the ka as he promoted maximum cooperation with East Campus Graduate College) attempted to set up plant disease experi- staff members and Extension. Plant pathology has played ments at the Scotts Bluff Substation, but gave up after sev- a major role in both research and extension activities ever eral years. The director of the substation at that time (James since. For the next 30 years, plant pathology personnel from Holden) had no interest in research collaborations with East East Campus were stationed at Scottsbluff during the sum- Campus staff members. In the mid-1920s, additional work mers to conduct field experiments and address disease prob- was begun with the purpose of reversing severe yield reduc- lems more efficiently. Beginning in 1946, Max Schuster was tions in alfalfa crops due to the combination of the bacte- assigned this task, and studied soilborne and virus diseases rial wilt disease and winter injury through the collaborations of potatoes, bacterial diseases of dry beans, corn stalk rots, of UNL plant pathologist George Peltier, USDA, and the and sugar beet root diseases. Some major accomplishments Agronomy Department. This resulted in the variety Ranger. included finding a new disease of sugar beets caused by a which became the first winter hardy, wilt resistant variety nematode pathogen indigenous to western Nebraska, Nacob- ever developed. It subsequently became the leading variety bus aberrans, (false root-knot nematode). He additionally grown in the U.S. through the 1960s. identified new color variants (orange and purple) of the bac- In 1930, an experimental farm was established by terial wilt pathogen that are also unique to the Panhandle. the Experiment Station near Alliance (later known as the Two diseases of wheat also provide examples of col- 10 Plant Pathology, Continued laboration between Lincoln-based faculty and those stationed in Scottsbluff, including western streak mosaic and root and crown rot, both of which we are still dealing with today. Bill Allington, Bob Staples, and Charlie Fenster worked for many years on the epidemiology of western streak mosaic (now known as wheat streak mosaic), and contributed significantly to formulating control measures for the disease. Root and crown rot was a devastating disease for many years in western Nebraska, but is now managed by planting wheat at appropriate dates for different regions of the state. These recommendations are still being used today, and are based largely on results of almost 20 years of research on this topic done by Charlie Fenster and Mike Boosalis.

First Permanent Extension Plant Pathologist As a result of a committee established in 1965 to evaluate current and future research and extension needs in Sunflower leaves infected with the early spore stages western Nebraska, the No. 1 recommended priority for new of rust -- pycnial (left) and aecial (right). specialist positions in the Panhandle Area was judged to be a plant pathologist. Thus Eric Kerr was hired in 1967 as the first full-time extension plant pathologist at the Panhandle Al Weiss (extension climatologist) for Cercospora leaf spot REC. His appointment was changed to 50 percent extension control in sugar beets (which is still in use today). Lastly, and 50 percent research in 1980, as the position still exists to he collaborated with Lincoln-based faculty in the biological this day. control of Rhizoctonia root rot in sugar beets, and control of Kerr established effective nematocidal treatments white mold, rust, and bacterial diseases of dry beans. against sugar beet nematodes, and provided the industry with guidelines for determining the threshold levels of nematode Changing of the Guard in Scottsbluff populations needed for economical nematocide treatments. Kerr retired in March 1998 and his position was He also studied nematode diseases of corn and the carry-over filled in 1999 by Robert Harveson, who currently hasre- effects of nematocidal soil treatments in a corn-dry bean- sponsibility for specialty crop diseases with an emphasis on sugar beet rotation. He developed a forecasting system with sugar beets, dry beans, and sunflowers. He has determined that Aphanomyces root rot is a major component of the root disease complex in sugar beets (with rhizomania, Rhizocto- nia root rot, and others) and is focusing on integrated methods of management including biological, cultural, chemical, and predictive. He also is studying the re-appearance of the bacterial wilt disease of dry beans (first investigated by M. Schuster in the 1950s), and its ability to survive on other crops grown in rotation with dry beans. This work has uncovered the presence of another pathogen color variant (pink) near Scottsbluff which has never been reported from any other location. He also identified the early stages of sunflower rust for the first time from naturally-occurring field infections in volunteers and wild species, and demonstrated the implications of this for subsequent disease development in commercial sunflower crops. His extension program has focused on providing a diagnostic service for producers (more than 22,000 samples since 2000) that tests both soils and plant specimens for disease identification and incidence. These sugarbeets show multiple diseases from a Much of the successes realized by plant pathology have single field found infecting roots simultaneously. been due to the longstanding technical support of Clay Carl- Roots from left to right infected with Aphanomyces son, and Kathy Nielsen, who have provided more than 50 and Rhzoctonia root rots; Fusarium root rot/ yellows, combined years of experience and service to the Panhandle and rhizomania. REC.

11 Centennial Profile: Community Development Programming

By Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Extension Community Devel- opment/Entrepreneurship Specialist And Connie Hancock, Extension Educator/Technology Community development as a focus is a fairly recent phenomenon for the Research and Extension Center. From 1981-1987 Arnold Bateman was the Extension Resource Development Specialist/Resource Conservation & Develop- ment Program Coordinator. As the coordinator of the Re- source Conservation and Development project, he worked with U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies in providing leadership for both funded and non-funded natural resource development programs and projects in the 12 western counties of Nebraska. Several of the funded projects worked on in western two full-time and two part-time staff members. She pro- Nebraska were recreation development, irrigation and flood vided leadership to offer distance delivered credit courses control projects. He prepared project development plans on from UNL, UNO, and UNK and worked collaboratively as over 20 projects and assisted in obtaining Soil Conservation a partner with Chadron State College and Western Nebraska Service Resource Conservation and Development funds to Community College in course delivery. The Learning Center help in construction of several of the projects. In addition, also coordinated satellite (Neb-SAT) technical assistance to his cooperative extension responsibilities included providing the public for approximately 100 workshops each year. In leadership to rural revitalization training and development addition to the program offerings at the Center in Scotts- programs in the Panhandle. Major project accomplishments bluff, programs and courses were offered through distance include the organization of the Nebraska Dry Bean Grow- education in Sidney (Connie Hancock, Extension Educator – ers Association, the development of the Nebraska Dry Bean coordinator), Alliance (Tony Merrigan, Extension Educator Commission (check off program), and the development of – coordinator), and in Rushville (Sheryl Carson, Extension the American Dry Bean Board. Leadership programming Educator – coordinator). included helping to develop the Family Community Leader- Burkhart-Kriesel focused her extension teaching respon- ship Development statewide program. sibilities in the area of strategic planning, customer service, From 1987 to 1997, Bateman moved to another role at and business management principles. Hancock, Extension the Center, as the Coordinator for the University of Nebraska Educator in Cheyenne and Kimball/Banner, also worked in Panhandle Education Center. The Education Center, created the area of community development within the district dur- in the late 1970s, was funded by the University of Nebraska- ing this time period. Her emphasis was in the area of tech- Lincoln Office of Extended Education and Outreach and Co- nology education. operative Extension and created a new blended community In 2001 the community development emphasis was development role for the region. separated from the Learning Center and a new Community As coordinator, he provided leadership for a credit and Development Specialist position was created, with Bur- non-credit continuing education organization with four full- khart-Kriesel being selected to fill the position. Since 2001 time and three part-time staff members that served over 9,400 people contacts per year. Credit programming, primar- Burkhart-Kriesel has focused community development ef- ily delivered by telephone and later by satellite, included five forts in two areas, business development (primarily within graduate programs from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln the tourism industry) and new resident recruitment and re- and one certificate program from University of Nebraska tention. at Omaha. Community and business workshops often were Hancock has maintained her focus in information tech- focused on strategic planning, leadership, customer service, nology and has partnered with other educators, specifically team building, and management principles. Jenny Nixon (Sioux County) and Jay Jenkins (Cherry Coun- In 1998, Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel took over the coordi- ty) in the Panhandle District, to help small businesses en- nator role for the newly reorganized University of Nebraska hance their e-commerce presence. Panhandle Learning Center, one of four regional Learning Burkhart-Kriesel and Hancock are currently involved in Centers in the state. Burkhart-Kriesel supervised the annu- a multi-state USDA National Research Initiative grant that al development and implementation of over 40 public and focuses on identifying effective ways to market rural com- inservice noncredit business development workshops with munities to improve new resident recruitment and retention. 12 Centennial Profile: Livestock Research in the Panhandle

By Tom Holman, Extension Educator Prior to 1915, sufficient livestock facilities were developed at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center to begin dairy, swine, sheep and beef research. True to the land grant mission livestock and related research centered around solving production issues of local producers. Dairy research published in 1915 involved sire selection for replacement females in local herds. Early in the 1920s the center was instrumental in the development of a six-breed swine composite breed for improvement in carcass quality. In 1949, sheep feeding trials were concluded to compare beet tops with traditional expensive pelleted feeds. This re- Cattle at the Panhandle Research Feedlot. sulted in using a cheap byproduct of the sugar industry to reduce lamb feeding costs. state-of-the-art facility. The cattle segment was and is still In 1951 winter hardiness of a landmark alfalfa variety, the largest agricultural contributor to the economy of the Ranger, was tested at the Research Center. Alfalfa variety Panhandle. tests continued from 1974 to the present along with weed Implant research to improve weight gain and control control that addressed producer concerns. In addition, in- diseases began in 1951, and continues to the present with sect interactions (1976) and fertilizer trials (1977 and 1979) initial testing and profitable use of such industry standards were conducted to improve yields. Later in 1978, innocu- as Bovatec, Rumensin, Ralgro, Synovex and Finaplex on lants tested for their viability in harvesting alfalfa and the growing and finished cattle. effects of nematodes (1982) were tested to address producer Feed tests to reduce feed costs and improve weight gains problems. were extensively and routinely conducted on locally grown feeds. These feeds included corn silage, beet pulp, alfalfa silage, corn stalks, wheat straw, high moisture corn, dry beans and ammoniation of many feeds to improve protein digesta- bility. The first published feed trials occurred in 1973 and continue to today. Beef herd health has been a priority for producers, and products commonly used today were initially tested at the Center. These include mineral, vitamin, and enzyme additives, antibiotic, viral and insecticide products injected and added to feeds to improve livestock health and producer income. The first of these improvement tests were conducted in 1973 and are still an important part of the program. Profitability and sustainability of the range beef cattle industry benefitted from Center research. In 1969 the effects of different stocking rates on native pasture were evaluated, which identified bench marks for grazing management in Western Nebraska. Another grazing study completed in 1976 measured the effect of different breeds on Western Ne- braska native ranges. A detailed beef herd evaluation project provided beef In response to the dramatic expansion of cattle feeding producers with a method of quantifying profits in compari- in the Panhandle of Nebraska that occurred in 1963, 1968 son with other herds. Spaying and implant trials on heifers and again in 1980, primary livestock research investigated were conducted in 1981 to improve feedlot gains. Recently, implants, supplements and locally grown cheap feeds to im- in response to the drought of the 1980s and 1990s, early prove cattle efficiency and reduce cost of gain in the feeding weaning trials were conducted to improve cow health and industry. In 2007 the Research Feedlot completed a signifi- measure the effects on calves. cant expansion to continue to solve producer problems in a 13 Centennial Profile: Horticulture in the Panhandle

By Jim Schild, Extension Educator early to mid 1930s. Vegetables that were tried included as- And Bob Hawley, Research Technician paragus, bush beans, table beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflow- er, celery, chard, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, Early Work endive, kohlrabi, lettuce, muskmelons, watermelons, okra, Many people associated the work of the Scottsbluff onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, salsify, spinach, squash, Station with the production of grains, but the early work of pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and turnips. The work the Scottsbluff station was also to investigate the possibility was mostly concerned with varieties and other factors from of horticultural production in the Panhandle region. the standpoint of the home garden. The first station manager, Fritz Knorr, planted an or- However, Harris also goes on to say that commercial chard in 1911. The station’s charge was to evaluate varieties production of cabbage and onions is feasible in the area, and for adaption to the region. Jules Sandoz was growing fruit that certain varieties of tomatoes, peas, beans, sweet corn, trees in his orchard in Sheridan County at the turn of the and red beets have canning possibilities. In March 1937, a century, but the unpredictable weather challenged him and meeting was held for local growers to discuss growing veg- others trying to grow fruit and vegetables. etables for canning purposes. The following is the report in Weather has and continues to be the biggest challenge for growers trying to produce quality fruits and vegetables, as evidenced by this report for the station from 1916: “The garden and orchard work were a total failure this year, due to sand storms, late snow and the hail at a later date. On June 20 the garden was practically as bare of vegetation as in Jan- uary. All that we were able to get out of the garden was a few string beans and a few tomatoes, the first of which ripened about a week before the first frost. All of the fruit was destroyed by the weather this fall. The hail did perhaps most of the damage to the young fruit. The trees were con- siderably damaged by the hail, most of the scars, however, healed very nicely during This 1913 photograph shot by Fritz Knorr, the first superintendent at the summer and no winter damage should the Scotts Bluff Agricultural Experiment Substation, shows a bird’s eye result from these wounds.” Gardeners to- view of the garden at the station in July of that year. day can relate to those same weather challenges. The second superintendent, James Holden, planted Harris’s weekly log: “The Otoe Food Products Co. is build- 100 fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries and plums) and 250 ing a canning factory near Scottsbluff at the present time. small fruits (currants, gooseberries, grapes, raspberries, and This company will can only tomatoes and sweet corn this strawberries) in 1923. Some of the trees lived and produced year, but eventually expects also to process asparagus, spin- fruit periodically during the next 30 years. In 1949 the apple ach, red beets, carrots, beans and peas. Approximately 200 crop contributed to the cash revenue of the station, the only growers attended the meeting, which indicates the interest year the orchard did so. that is being shown in the new industry.” The third superintendent, Lionel Harris, continued Otoe Foods, later called Morton House, canned veg- looking at fruit production. He worked in cooperation with etables from 1939 to 1946, when it was sold to Consumer’s the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cheyenne Horticultural Cooperative of Kansas City. Station and planted an experimental orchard in 1939. Out Commercial vegetable production interest was re- of that collaboration many fruit trees and small fruits were newed in the 1960s, when David Nuland evaluated vegetable identified as being hardy, and some are still planted in this varieties in 19 counties in Nebraska. The specific purpose region today. was to generate information for the vegetable processing Harris also conducted vegetable variety tests in the industry regarding the potential for vegetable production 14 Horticulture, Continued in Nebraska. Information was com- piled on asparagus, lima beans, dry beans, snapbeans, red beets, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, onions, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, sweet corn, and tomatoes. Campbell Soups in Omaha was looking for local sources of vegetables, but as the interstate road system developed it brought with it the ability to bring in fresh produce from the traditional vegetable growing regions. Nuland began looking at turf and landscape issues in the early 1970s, conducting trials on bluegrass varieties and looking at warm season grasses suited to the high plains landscapes. Nuland teamed up with Stan Haas, who was the Communi- cation Specialist at the center and started the D.A. Murphy Arboretum. The arboretum is part of the Ne- braska Statewide Arboretum System and was still in existence as of 2010. Nuland, along with county agents in the Panhandle region, started and re- cruited Master Gardeners for a new state program in 1986. In return for classroom instruction the Master Gardener volunteers donate back to their communities 40 hours of their time working on various horticultural projects. An attempt at vegetable production was again made in the mid 1980s, when the UNL Food Process- ing Center established a presence at the Lionel Harris building at the Mitchell Unit. Carrots, onions, and peppers were all grown at the cen- The 1912 landscape plan for the Scottsbluff Substation lists the plants (left) ter. Onions started in paper pots in on the grounds, and shows where they were planted. greenhouses and later transplanted to the field were also evaluated. Some ferent varieties of grapes that can be grown in western Ne- local businessmen were at this time trying to set up a freeze braska. As of 2010, three commercial wineries were in op- dry operation in Gering to package the vegetable products. eration. Unfortunately, the local bank that was helping with the proj- The D.A. Murphy Arboretum continues and the fo- ect failed and with the bank failure the project also failed. cus of the work has been to reduce the amount of water used Nuland retired in 2000 and in the budget-cutting in the landscape. Native shrubs and trees have been planted process for that year the horticultural position at the Pan- in landscape beds, bluegrass turf areas have been converted handle Center was lost. Extension Educator Jim Schild and to buffalograss turf and mulched landscape plantings of trees other educators picked up pieces of Nuland’s work. and shrubs. Schild’s horticultural work has been looking at dif-

15 Centennial Profile: Feedlot Management and Nutrition

By Karla H. Jenkins, Cow/Calf Range Management Special- feed efficiency and cost of gain. ist, and Ivan Rush, Professor Emeritus, Retired Livestock In 1974 Dr. Ivan Rush joined the Panhandle Research Specialist and Extension Center as the Livestock Specialist for the district. For the next 35 years, Rush contributed to the develop- The Beginning of Finishing Research ment of the feedlot industry by researching the use of ensiled Finishing studies conducted in the late 1950s and corn, roughage and protein sources, implants, feed additives, early 1960s in the Nebraska Panhandle consisted of diets and by-product utilization in feedlot diets. His vision for feed- containing greater than 20 percent roughage, and resulted lot research in the Nebraska Panhandle and his relationship in gains ranging from less than 2 pounds per day to almost with western Nebraska producers eventually led to a collab- 3 pounds per day. Feed efficiency averaged around 7.5-8 orative effort pounds of feed per pound of gain. Today our roughage levels to expand the are between 7-10 percent, our gains over 4 pounds per day research feed- and efficiency between 5 and 6 pounds of feed per pound lot to a 1,500- of gain. Our carcasses are heavier and better quality. Sixty head-capacity years of research has led to the development of the commer- lot with 102 cial cattle feeding industry. That industry is now responsible research pens. for a major portion of the economy of the Great Plains. Collabora- Humble Beginnings tive Efforts, When the Scotts Bluff Experiment Station was lo- Vision, and cated east of Mitchell, Promise Walt Woods, Don Clan- The uniqueness of western Nebraska’s climate al- ton, and Lionel Harris lows this research feedlot to conduct research that is not conducted small finish- only applicable in western Nebraska, but also in the southern ing studies in a set of Great Plains as well. Today research is conducted on the use 10 pens behind what is of distiller’s grains, beet pulp, alternative crops, feed addi- now known as the Lionel tives, implant strategies, and processing methods in both dry Harris Building. Early rolled corn and steam flaked corn based diets. It is one of the research attempted to largest research feedlots in the United States. reduce back fat on Her- eford steers with a meta- bolic stimulant. Additional research focused on the effects of implants, physical form of the diet, roughage and protein sources.

The First Expansion The early 1970s witnessed the birth of the commercial feeding industry and research needed to focus on developing the efficiency of this new industry. UNL Animal Sci- ence Professor Terry Klopfenstein designed 28 feedlot pens east of the Mitchell station where the current research feedlot exists today. In 1970 a strong research program began to focus on bunk management, waste management, improving 16 Centennial Profile: Range Management in Western Nebraska

By James Stubbendieck, Professor and Director, Center for Wildlife Department at Texas Tech. The project was to de- Great Plains Studies termine the influences of low rates (30 pounds per acre) of and Karla H. Jenkins, Cow/Calf Range Management Spe- nitrogen fertilizer (as nitrogen was inexpensive at the time) cialist, Panhandle Research and Extension Center on steer gains and vegetation in some of the same rest rota- Dr. Donald F. Burzlaff initiated range research on tion systems that Dr. Burzlaff set up about 15 years before. the 800-acre experimental range in Sioux County in about Additional research conducted evaluated cheatgrass 1960. He cross-fenced the tract into several rest rotation sys- control, dryland legumes, warm season grass establishment, tems and initiated research on livestock yearling steer gains and wet meadow fertility. Dr. Stubbendiek then moved to under the different systems and the influences of the systems Lincoln in 1978 and remains on faculty today. With Dr. Stub- on the vegetation. During this early period O.E. (Gene) Hoe- bendiek’s position change to Lincoln, a new range ecologist, hne did the work on his Animal Science Ph.D. dissertation Pat Reece was hired for the Panhandle in 1978. Dr. Reece conducted research on the range in the Panhandle until his retirement in 2007. Dr. Reece focused his research efforts on grazing and seasonal effects on predominant species such as prairie sandreed, sand bluestem, and blue grama. He extensively studied the effects of stocking density as well as the effects of intense grazing rotations and multiple occupan- cies throughout the grazing season. Dr. Karla Jenkins became the Cow/calf, range management specialist in 2009. Research efforts will focus on enhancing the sustainability of the range through supplementation and grazing strategies, as well as the use of alternative forages. In summary, some of the pioneering work on rest rotation systems was done at the Panhandle Center. Systems researched were very similar to those in use today throughout the Great Plains. The nitrogen fertilization work showed that the economic returns did not justify the inputs. In ad- Mature needleandthread grass, an early producing dition it caused a conversion of the mixture of warm- and cool season grass important to western Nebraska. cool-season grasses to nearly all cool-season species. The intensive research on specific species of vegetation revealed how grazing management affects available forage quantity studying the chemical composition and in-vitro digestibility and quality and has created an awareness of the importance of forbs consumed by cattle grazing on native range. Also, of properly managed range. Charles Streeter did his animal science Ph.D. work evaluat- ing techniques used to estimate the in vitro digestibility of grazed forage. Both students conducted their research under the tutelage of Dr. Don Clanton. Larry Rittenhouse conducted his M.S. thesis project titled “Phenological and environmental influences of foliage cover as measured by the focal point technique” under Dr. Burzlaff. He graduated in 1966. James Stubbendiek moved to Scottsbluff in 1966 and also completed his M.S. under Dr. Burzlaff titled “Investigations relative to the growth and development of blue grama” and graduated in 1968. Today blue grama remains a prominent important species for western Nebraska. James Stubbendiek worked as a technician and managed the grazing trials under Dr. Burzlaff’s direc- tion. After receiving his Ph.D. at Texas A&M, he returned to Scottsbluff in 1974 as the first Range Specialist. Dr. Stub- bendiek finished an 8-year project that Dr. Burzlaff initiated Western wheatgrass, a cool season staple of the Ne- before he accepted the position of Chair of the Range and braska Panhandle. 17 Centennial Profile: Weed Research in Western Nebraska

By Dr. Robert G. Wilson, Professor of Agronomy and Horti- culture, Panhandle Research and Extension Center

Weed science research was initiated at the Panhan- dle Research and Extension Center (PREC) in the spring of 1975, when Robert G. Wilson joined the faculty at the center. This new position was created to meet the demands of producers in western Nebraska for weed control information for irrigated crops and to explore methods for suppress- ing Canada thistle. The need for new and improved thistle management techniques caused producers across Nebraska to lobby the legislators in 1974 for the creation of two new weed science positions, one at Scottsbluff and one at Clay Center. Over the past 35 years weed control research has been conducted for sugarbeets, dry beans, alfalfa, corn, chicory, sunflowers, potatoes, onions, garbanzo beans, wheat, Canada thistle roots. pasture, and rangeland. reserves consist of free sugars glucose, fructose and su- Research Highlights crose, and fructans with varying degrees of polymerization. The concentration of root carbohydrates undergo seasonal changes which allow the plant to tolerate environmental stresses. For Canada thistle to successfully survive freez- ing soils, the carbohydrate composition of roots changes as winter approaches. Long-chain length fructans break down to form kestose, nystose, and sucrose which allow the roots to survive in frozen soils. Fall application of herbicides at the occurrence of the first frost interrupts carbohydrate me- tabolism and results in increased herbicide efficacy.

Irrigation canals.

Weed Seeds: The system of dams, canals, and later- als that distribute water throughout the North Platte River valley also provide a conduit for the dissemination of weed seed. Seed of 77 different plant species were collected from surface irrigation water over a 2-year period in the Farmers and Enterprise canals. Pigweed species were the most common seed found in irrigation water, but barnyardgrass and lambsquarters followed. During a typical irrigation season surface irrigation water had the potential to introduce over Chicory roots. 20,000 seeds per acre into irrigated fields. Canada Thistle: Canada thistle is a perennial weed Chicory: In the fall of 1994 researchers at the PREC that develops an extensive underground root system that al- were approached by Western Sugar Company to explore the lows the weed to spread and overwinter. Root carbohydrate possibilities of growing chicory in western Nebraska. This 18 Weed Research, Continued project evolved over the next 16 years as a major research cides, glyphosate-tolerant sugarbeets treated with glyphosate and extension effort. Chicory is a root crop like sugarbeets had less early season crop injury and a 19 percent increase but is a member of a different plant family and hence is not in sucrose yield per acre. During the 2009 cropping season affected by the same diseases that attack sugarbeets. Chicory glyphosate-tolerant sugarbeets were planted on 99 percent of seed is planted in mid April and can be harvested from mid the sugarbeet acreage in Nebraska and sugarbeet root yields September through November. Root development increas- for the 2009 growing season reached an all-time high of 25 es very rapidly in the fall. On Sept. 1, root yield averaged tons/acre. 15 tons/acre and by Nov. 15 had increased to 27 tons/acre. Chicory roots contain 20 percent storage carbohydrates as fructans, which can be used as functional food ingredients. Early-season weed suppression is one of the major obstacles in growing the crop. Weed control research identified two herbicides imazamox (Raptor) and rimsulfuron plus thifeno- sulfuron (Basis) that could be applied early in the growing season for selective weed control in the crop. Results from research indicated that chicory can be successfully grown in western Nebraska.

Research plots in long-term glyphosate resistance study.

Glyphosate-Tolerant Weeds: With the advent of glyphosate-resistant crops in the mid 1990s and their rapid adoption by U.S. farmers, concerns have arisen about weed resistance to glyphosate. In the spring of 1998 a long-term experiment was initiated at the PREC to measure weed populations following multiple applications of glyphosate or alternating glyphosate with nonglyphosate in continuous corn or in a crop rotation of corn, sugarbeet, spring wheat, Roundup vs. conventional sugarbeets. and soybean with all crops resistant to glyphosate. After 6 years, the composition of the weed population shifted from kochia and wild proso millet to predominately common Weed Control in Sugarbeets: Weed control in lambsquarters. Using a reduced rate of glyphosate caused sugarbeets has been the nemesis of the crop ever since the the population of common lambsquarters to increase to the crop was introduced in Nebraska in the early 1900s. Mi- extent that corn grain yield was reduced 43% compared to grant labor toiled in the fields to remove weeds for the first corn yield where the recommended rate of glyphosate was 80 years of production. Beginning in 1990 the concept of utilized. Common lambsquarters control was achieved by using multiple postemergence herbicide applications nick- applying a herbicide other than glyphosate at planting. This named the half-rate was developed at the PREC. This weed strategy has suppressed the weed population and when com- control program became very popular and reduced the need bined with glyphosate provided excellent corn grain yields. for hand labor. The major drawback to the program was In the nonglyphosate treatment after 8 years of use kochia early season sugarbeet injury. Beginning in 1998, research density increased to the extent that additional herbicide was was initiated on glyphosate (Roundup) tolerant sugarbeets. required for weed suppression. After repeated use most her- Glyphosate applied two or three times at 2-week intervals, bicide modes of action will select for tolerant weeds, the key beginning when weeds were 4 inches tall, provided excel- to successful weed management is to scout for weed shifts lent weed control, yield, and net economic return. Compared and counter them by adding herbicide with a different mode to conventional sugarbeets treated with conventional herbi- of action.

19 Centennial Profile: Growth of the Nebraska Potato Industry

By Dr. Alexander D. Pavlista, Potato Specialist & Crop Physiologist, Panhandle Research and Extension Center

The Beginning The Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) began tracking the potato industry in 1866, a year before state- hood. Then, acreage was 5,000; yield was 36 cwt/a (cwt = hundredweight = 100 lb), and the crop value was $500,000. The late 19th Century saw the advent of the “Mechanical Revolution,” the first modern agricultural milestone. Acre- age steadily increased reaching a plateau of around 100,000 acres in 1907 (Figure 1) that lasted to 1935. Potato production during this period was directly related to increased acreage. There was no change in yield which remained at about 50 cwt/a (Figure 2).

progressive cultural practices such as fertilization, pest rec- ognition, monitoring and control, emphasis on soil husband- ry, and a shift from rain-fed to irrigated production. These innovations were due to University research and usage by progressive growers. After 1948, potato acreage dropped from 49,000 to an all-time low of less than 7,000 in 1972-73. During this time, production declined due to acreage from over 6 million cwt to less than 1½ million. Gross income was reduced from over 6 million $US to less than 2½ million for the State. However, the declines would have been more cataclysmic if it were not for the continual research in improving potato yield which continued to improve at 4-5 cwt/a per year. This period of decline may be attributed to many factors including increased urbanization with a decline of the small family farm growing potato. The potato market was becoming more and more national, and less local. The sudden 37% decline in potato acreage between Dr. Harvey Werner: In 1910 the Scotts Bluff Experi- 1935 and 1936 can be accounted for by the Dust Bowl and ment Station, currently known as the Panhandle Research the Great Depression. From 1936, through WWII to 1946, a and Extension Center, was established. After Dr. Harvey short plateau was maintained at 70,000 acres. Interestingly, Werner came to the University in 1918, he established a Po- during this period, production attained its highest level to tato Program in 1920 and was the first Potato Specialist / that time (Figure 3). At about 7 million cwt, production was Horticulturist in Nebraska. He was President of the Potato nearly double that attained during WWI. The value of pro- Association of America (PAA) in 1925. Dr. Werner focused duction, at about $13 million from 1942-48, was the highest on developing new varieties for growers, releasing 11 potato to that time as well (Figure 4). Several forces account for cultivars. See the S.B. Exp. Sta. 50th Anniversary “Profiles this plateau and record highs. During WWII, the US gov- of Progress” p. 8-9 (1960). He worked extensively on potato ernment identified potato as an essential commodity for the storage and initiated the Seed Certification Program. wartime effort. The second modern agricultural milestone, the “Chemical Revolution,” began with the advent of pesti- From 1960 to 1990 cide usage in the late 1930s. Also from 1935 to the present, From 1960 to 1990, the Nebraska potato industry yield has undergone a steady improvement at 4-5 cwt/a per was at its low point. During this period, the fast food in- year. This yield increase resulted from improved cultivars, dustry grew and began to dominate potato production. The 20 Potato Industry, Continued premier cultivar for french fry production was, and still is, cultivar that was to influence the Nebraska industry was Yu- the Russet Burbank. But, this cultivar grows unacceptably in kon Gold, released in 1981 by the Univ. of Guelph but not Nebraska so the State could not take advantage of this boom. reaching popularity until around 2000. Due to its leadership in potato certification, Nebraska, spe- Dr. Robert O’Keefe: Upon Werner’s retirement in 1962, cifically the Panhandle, became known for seed tuber pro- his graduate student, Dr. Robert O’Keefe become the second duction. The State produced red-skinned cultivars for use in Potato Specialist. He was President of the Potato Associa- the southern states and the main fresh market potato was the tion of America (PAA) in 1980. O’Keefe, as did Werner, fo- Norgold Russet, released by Dr. Robert Johansen of North cused on improving potato cultivars emphasizing common Dakota State University in 1964. Norgold Russet was great scab resistence. He released seven cultivars, helped expand tasting but not visually appealing. seed production and successfully promoted Nebraska as a However, during this period, several major develop- potato chip industry.

From 1990 to the Present In the late 1980s, potato acres were level at about 10,000. During this decade, production and its value gradu- ally increased. After 1992, acreage took a sharp upswing to a peak of 26,000 in 1998-99 and then leveled at about 20,000 acres partially due to a drought that may be ending in 2009. In 1999, a record production of 10½ million cwt was attained, 40% higher than the record set in 1942 when there were four times the acreage. That year, yield went over 400 cwt/a for the first time. In the past 20 years, the rate of yield change increased to 8-9 cwt/a per year, accounting for the difference between 1942 and 1999. Yield increase was associated with water and nitrogen management, new cultivars (Atlantic and Norkotah Russet) and their management, and pesticide development and management, e.g., integrated pest management, and pest identification and monitoring. Today, Russet Norkotah is sometimes referred to as the “Nebraska Russet” and dominates nearly all fresh market production in the State. Chip production, all of which is contracted to ments were beginning that would influence the future of the Frito-Lay with about 85 percent of the national market, also Nebraska industry in the 21st Century. Center-pivot irriga- dominates. Seed production remains an important part of tion began and was gaining wide-spread acceptance. Center- the overall industry. With the stabilizing of national potato pivot irrigation allowed the growers to control when and how acreage in the past several years, prices have shown major much water to apply to potatoes. Through research, irriga- improvement. In 2008, the average price was about $10/cwt tion management was found to partially control infection by for Nebraska growers resulting in a record value of over $82 common scab and black scurf, two major disease problems. million. This compares with $110 million for dry bean, $42 Potato farms were aggregating into larger, corporate farm- million for sugar beet (2007), $61 million for grain sorghum, ing operations allowing for major investment in specialized and $20 million for sunflower. New strains of the late blight equipment and cultural practices. The chipping cultivar At- pathogen, with resistance to current fungicides, and more ag- lantic was released by the USDA-ARS at Beltsville, MD, in gressive and virulent than the one that caused the Irish potato 1978. Atlantic became, and still is, the premier chipping cul- famine in the 19th Century, appeared in Nebraska in the late tivar, and it grows well in Nebraska although it tends to be 1990s. New fungicides were developed and their manage- prone to common scab. The ability to grow Atlantic attracted ment incorporated. the potato chip industry to western Nebraska increasing not Dr. Alexander Pavlista: In the late 1980s, potato only chip but also seed production. Frito-Lay was becoming growers decided to shift emphasis to production. When the dominant corporation in the chip market and its pres- O’Keefe retired in 1988, Dr. Alexander Pavlista, a plant ence in Nebraska was growing with contracts to growers in physiologist from the chemical corporate world, came to the Panhandle. In 1987, the cultivar Russet Norkotah was Nebraska as the third (and current) Potato Specialist and released by NDSU and it quickly replaced Norgold Russet President of the PAA in 2007. Major projects were sulfur because of its nicer appearance albeit poorer taste. Again, fertilization to control common scab, fungicides to control this cultivar for the fresh market grows well in Nebraska and early and late blights, insecticides for potato psyllids, plant revitalized the industry here in the 21st Century. The third growth regulators for yield, and cultivar evaluations. New

21 Potato Industry, Continued projects were initiated recently to deal with limited irriga- Cultivar development under the Potato Specialists, provided tion and crop rotation with regard to climate change and PCAN with pertinent data on new cultivars adaptable to Ne- biofuels. braska. Prior to the mid-1970s, material coming into industry use from breeding, testing, and development programs Next 10 years carried significant levels of disease. In order to solve this Dr. Pavlista expects acreage to be stable near 20,000 problem and provide a disease free basis of cultivars, PCAN while yield inclines. The income from potato to State grow- used the Panhandle Research and Extension Center (PREC) ers could continue to rise to $100 million level as practices and cultivars keep improving. A key factor for the future is the third modern agricultural milestone, the “Genetic Revo- lution,” heralded with the ‘Flavr Savr’ tomato in the 1980s. Genetic modification (GMO) has become prominent in corn and soybean production. In the 1990s, GMO potato cultivars were introduced but due to pressure by interest groups on fast-food industry, they were withdrawn. As GMOs acceptance by the public increases, GMO potato production will be key in the 21st Century food supply. With the growing identification of climate change as a major problem in the 21st Century, research on plant management under limited water availability for potato and for potential rotational crops such as canola and camelina for biofuels was initiated. Research on growth regulators expanded recently to rotational crops in potato production. New problems are always on the horizon, such as zebra chip disease transmitted by potato psyllids, and new virulent and aggressive strains of late and early blight pathogens.

Potato Certification Association of Nebraska facilities, greenhouse, cellar and laboratory/office space at The Potato Certification Association of Nebraska the Mitchell Ag Lab. At that time, PREC headquarters was (PCAN) was designated by the Institute of Agriculture and transferred to new facilities vacated by Hiram Scott College Natural Resources to conduct the potato certification pro- in Scottsbluff. The NPCA holds up standards for the seed gram in Nebraska under State law. PCAN was established at potato industry and is centered in Box Butte County. To re- the request of seed potato growers. The Vice-Chancellor of main competitive, the seed potato industry must be progres- IANR and an advisory committee specify the standards and sive and have disease-free seed stocks. The open channels review all appointments, rules and procedures. Following of communication between the Departments of Plant Pa- the incorporation of PCAN in 1951, Warren Trank was the thology, Agronomy-Horticulture, and Entomology and the Secretary-Manager until retiring in 1980 when Gary Leever NPCA are viewed by the seed potato industry as extremely took this position. Upon Gary’s recent retirement in 2009, important to keep Nebraska potato industry current with the Steve Marquardt become the Secretary-Manager. The Sec- new techniques. The Potato Certification Association is the retary-Manager of PCAN has a courtesy appointment to the University’s designated agent to conduct Potato Certifica- Department of Agronomy-Horticulture at the University of tion in Nebraska. As such by law as a non-profit Association, Nebraska. Since its incorporation, the seed potato program of it can only charge a fee to cover the cost of service provided PCAN and UNL’s potato program have been closely aligned. to the industry which it serves.

22 Centennial Profile: Mechanized Crop Production

By John A. Smith, Professor/Machinery Systems Engineer nal combustion engines became commonplace as the prima- Panhandle Research and Extension Center ry power source on individual Panhandle farms, replacing a stable of draft horses. In a period as short as 15 years, horses Power and mechanization for agricultural crop pro- were replaced by tractors, and the field capacity of an indi- duction have been at the center of a dramatic history of pro- vidual producer went from level to a steep incline. Row crop duction agriculture in the Nebraska Panhandle through the tractors increased in engine power from a common 15-30 hp 100 years from 1910 to 2010. The technology invented and in 1935 to a typical 240 hp in 2010, creating a near 10-fold developed by Agricultural Engineers within the history of increase in unit productivity. this period has increased crop yields, has eliminated almost Invention, development, and adaptation of field all heavy physical labor, has provided a safe and economical implements also made dramatic change in field operations food supply, and has increased the acreage of a typical crop and reduction in manual labor for crop production during production operation in the Nebraska Panhandle by as much the previous 100 years. Grain harvest evolved from horse- as 40-fold during this period. drawn binders and manual shocking of the grain sheaves to the present self-propelled combine har- vesters with features including 40-foot- wide headers; 300-bushel grain tanks; self-adjusting threshing and cleaning systems to minimize grain damage and field loss while maximizing field capacity; and yield monitors. Hay harvest has changed from literally making piles of hay to be later fed to livestock in the field to making dense, 1-ton square bale packages designed for efficient transport to other states. Pneu- matic and mechanical thinners were developed to replace manual thinning of the sugarbeet crop. Sugarbeet har- vesters reduced the dreaded hand labor of topping, loading, and transporting the roots to the factory. Tillage implements and row-crop planters increased in width, robustness, and field capacity to match the continuing increase in tractor power. Planters, for example, have progressed from four or six row implements with mechanical singu- Direct harvest of dry edible beans is an evolving crop production practice lation mechanisms, to more precise that is an example of the contribution of Agricultural Engineering to western pneumatic seed handling implements Nebraska agriculture. with common widths of 12 and 16 rows, and widths now available up to 48 rows. The development of a reliable internal combustion Agricultural engineers have contributed much more engine for the farm tractor perhaps made more impact on than just ‘bigger, heavier steel’ to the mechanization of crop the “progress” of crop production than any other single ad- production. Engine technology has provided more reliable, vancement or change between 1910 and 2010. In 1910 there fuel-efficient power with reduced emissions as documented were very few “tractors” in the Nebraska Panhandle and by the world-famous University of Nebraska Tractor Test these were steam engines used for pulling multi-gang sod Laboratory. Complex electrical and hydraulic systems on plows for breaking the prairie, and for powering stationary tractors, combines, and other implements have all but elimi- threshing machines for harvesting dryland wheat. It was re- nated human power with modern farm operations that was ally in the 1930’s and early 1940’s before tractors with inter- so intense with field work 100 years ago. Agricultural en- 23 Mechanized Crop Production, Continued gineers and designers have most recently taken a page from has been a contributor to this process and progress for local NASA and military operations to utilize satellite signals and crops and production systems. Examples include: digital communication (GPS) to enable assisted steering • Development of a practical transplanting system and positioning of tractors, combines, and implements. This for Nebraska sugarbeet production. technology has now progressed to true sub-inch auto-steer, • Measurement of field loss from dry bean and sug- including automatic turning and positioning of implements arbeet harvest operations which has lead to awareness of at ends of fields; prescription rate application of chemicals harvest loss and subsequent reduction in this field loss. and planting; and mapping of crop yields, soil properties, • Research on seed quality from dry bean harvest and applied chemicals. These technologies are endangering which has resulted in changes to combine design and op- the meticulous art of tractor driving, but are enabling real- erating adjustments to accommodate higher harvested seed time management of the technologies of the field operation! quality. But this 100 years of power and mechanization • Development of an electronic planter test stand to development has brought much more than simple produc- accurately measure sugarbeet planter seed spacing perfor- tivity to modern crop production. Perhaps as important to mance and which has replaced grease belts. This technol- long-term agriculture, this technology has made possible ogy is used in the annual sugarbeet industry planter clinics. improved quality of harvested crop and a practical stew- The concept has led to a commercially available system for ardship of our natural resources, particularly soil and wa- monitoring planter seed spacing accuracy in the field. ter, necessary for sustainable crop production into the next 100 years. Agricultural engineers have led research and the • Zone tillage equipment and systems for sugarbeet practical development of conservation tillage production and dry bean production. Zone tillage is now a primary pro- systems which minimize soil tillage operations and maintain duction system used in the Nebraska Panhandle to reduce crop residues on the soil surface, both significantly reducing production costs, improve conservation of soil and water, soil erosion, conserving soil water for the intended crop, and and to alleviate soil compaction. improving soil properties. Modern farm implement inven- • Development of direct-harvest systems for dry ed- tions and developments have enabled widespread utilization ible beans specifically for Nebraska harvest conditions and of these sustainable and environmentally responsible crop producer objectives. Header manufacturers have modified production systems. equipment, the necessity of maintaining a very level field These changes, improvements, and developments has been recognized, bean varieties have been evaluated, in farm power and machinery, and their contributions to and harvest loss documented. crop production, have encompassed a national, even global, • Development of tillage, planting, and harvesting scope. The Machinery systems engineering position at the systems for chicory production in Nebraska. Panhandle Research and Extension Center, created in 1979,

24 Centennial Profile: A Century of Soil Research

By Gary W. Hergert, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Specialist crop diseases and pests were significantly decreased. and Rex A. Nielsen, Research Technician Commercial fertilizer products were limited and Panhandle Research and Extension Center expensive in the early 20th century. In western Nebraska, legumes and livestock manure were the predominant means Sustaining soil productivity was an important part for enhancing soil fertility. However World War II dramati- of at the Panhandle Station which later became the Univer- cally changed the availability of manufactured fertilizers sity of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center. because it created a large need for munitions. The United Although some aspects of enhancing or maintaining soil States expanded production of anhydrous ammonia from fertility have been known for centuries, materials useful for the Haber-Bosch process and made ammonium nitrate for enhancing soil fertility were limited. When the native sod munitions. There was excess of these products (ammonium was broken, the residual fertility from this virgin prairie nitrate and ammonia) at the end of the war, and they became was enough to keep the land productive for several years. available for agricultural use at economical prices. The However, to sustain a reasonable level of productivity, new large-scale production of sulfuric and nitric acids also provided the means to begin commercial phosphate production by acidulating rock phosphate. Publications written by Lionel Har- ris and Vance Pumphrey in the 1950s report the benefits of nitrogen fertilizer on corn. Publications at the time noted that as little as one pound of nitrogen fertilizer could produce an additional bushel of corn. Research also demonstrated the benefits of applying phos- phorus to sugar beets and corn. Most of the fertilizers we have today came from research at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Fertilizer branch in Muscle Shoals, Ala., created by legis- lation authored by Senator Frank Nor- ris of Nebraska. The first products were ammonium nitrate and ordinary super- phosphate. Later products included triple super phosphate (0-46-0), urea- ammonium nitrate solution (32-0-0), and ammonium polyphosphate (10- 34-0). TVA conducted national dem- Research technician Rex Nielsen collects soil samples from a research onstration efforts in conjunction with plot. land-grant universities to promote the use of fertilizer from the 1960’s into the 1990s. methods needed to be developed. Station scientists were Too much fertilizer can be a problem just like defi- soon called on to find solutions to these problems. ciencies. In the 1950s Great Western Sugar Company stipu- Traditional methods of sustaining soil fertility in- lated in beet contracts that farmers apply 200 pounds of su- cluded crop rotation, green manures and adding livestock perphosphate per acre. Dr. Gary Peterson (former Nebraska manure. As early as 1912 Fritz Knorr, the first station direc- scientist) found that the excess phosporus induced micronu- tor, established a large set of plots, containing 9 with contin- trient deficiencies in corn. These problems were particularly uous cropping and 25 with different crop rotations, several evident on high pH soils found in the North Platte Valley. including alfalfa and manure. A few years later, then direc- Lower P rates and soil testing helped address the problem. tor James Holden reported dramatic yield benefits of rotat- In the 1960s, Frank Anderson conducted numerous ing alfalfa. He also noted that with longer rotations certain experiments with various zinc fertilizer products on corn. 25 Soil Research, continued

Anderson also did research on fertilization of potatoes with various combinations of N, P and K. The primary thrust was the quality of the potato for chipping. In the late 1960s, An- derson and Gary Peterson initiated a series of experiments to calibrate the nitrogen soil test for sugar beets by measur- ing soil nitrate content to six feet. Their calibrations were adopted by Great Western Sugar Company and it improved yield and quality. Louis Daigger was an extension soil scientist who did extensive work on small grains in the 1960s and ‘70s plus other crops. In the 1980’s, Frank Anderson assumed responsibility for fertility work for dryland crops as well and conducted numerous experiments on N and P for winter wheat under different types of fallow tillage methods. When Frank Anderson retired in 1990, Dr. Greg Bin- ford worked on developing fertilizer recommendations for sunflowers. Corn research determined why corn yields were sometimes depressed following beets. Dr. Binford worked Research technician Rex Nielsen and Gary Hergert, with spoked-wheel fertilizer applicators and did extensive soil fertility and nutrient specialist, set up a fertilizer work with chlorophyll meters. trial on sugarbeets. Dr. Jurg Blumenthal followed Binford. He did extensive research on precision fertilizer applications on both dry beans, winter wheat, canola, sugar beets and irrigated sugar beets and corn using GPS technology. He modified a grasses. It includes iron chlorosis on high-pH soils, manure full-size sugar beet harvester to monitor sugar beet yields as management, and a major project on no-till limited irrigation it was pulled through the field. He also collected and isolated systems that is designed to help farmers adapt to restricted new strains of native nitrogen-fixing bacteria for dry edible bean inoculation. irrigation water use. Rex Nielsen has served as technologist Dr. Gary Hergert came to the Panhandle in 2004 after for all the soil scientists beginning with Frank Anderson and 26 years at the West Central Research and Extension Center has been instrumental in managing the Knorr-Holden Long at North Platte. His research efforts focus on soil and nutri- Term Manure plots plus other soil fertility experiments. ent management to improve fertilizer use efficiency for corn,

26 Centennial Profile: A History of the Knorr-Holden Corn Plot

By Gary W. Hergert, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Specialist late 1880s and early 1890s. The settlers soon realized that and Rex A. Nielsen, Research Technician rainfall in western Nebraska was generally insufficient and Panhandle Research and Extension Center unreliable enough to grow most crops to maturity. With only a few small streams in the area, the waters of the North Platte The Story of Agricultural Research in the North River were soon called upon to make up for the rain not sup- Platte River Valley and the Knorr-Holden Corn Plot began plied by nature. with the establishment of the Scottsbluff Experiment Sub- The first irrigation company in the area was formed station in 1910. Shortly after the station was established a in 1887 for the irrigation of the area now included in the large series of rotation plots were layed out on the newly Farmer’s Irrigation District. The canal system for this irriga- plowed ground. The plots, including what is now the the tion district was extended from time to time and was finally completed in 1911. The second irrigation company was also formed in 1887. This company was called the Minatare Mu- tual Canal and Winters Creek Canal, this canal was finished in 1888. Several other small canals were completed in the next few years. Irrigation from these canals was an imme- diate success. This attracted a great deal of attention from drought stricken farmers in the area. The success of the irrigation projects proved that irrigation would be a necessity to realize the full productivity of the land, however it would take large scale irrigation projects to realize the full agricultural potential of the North Platte River Valley. Many more canals, large and small, were proposed, but due to the area farmers’ lack of financial resources, large scale irrigation projects would need government support. In 1895 Nebraska enacted an irrigation district law permitting the formation of districts with the power to assess land for irrigation improvements. The Federal Reclamation Act was passed in 1902 and studies were begun by the Reclamation Service for the Shortly after construction of the Scotts Bluff Experi- North Platte Project. The project was authorized in 1903 mental Substation, the native soil is broken on the and during the same year surveys were started to determine ground where the Knorr-Holden Plot would come to the location of irrigable lands and a reservoir site. In 1905, be located. construction began on the Pathfinder Dam and the Interstate Canal. By 1915, work on the Interstate Canal and Reservoir was completed and work had started on the Fort Laramie Knorr-Holden Corn Plot played a significant role in the edu- Canal. The Northport Canal system was started in 1918. All cational research conducted at the University of Nebraska construction was completed by 1925 and the Guernsey Dam Panhandle Research and Extension Center and its predeces- was completed in 1927. Several other dams and irrigation sor the Scottsbluff Experiment Substation. Since its estab- projects have been constructed since 1925. lishment in 1912, the plot has yielded valuable information The North Platte Project extends 111 miles along the about the ecology, environmental impact and production river valley from near Guernsey, Wyoming to below Bridge- principles of long-term continuous irrigated corn. port, Nebraska. The city of Scottsbluff is near the center of In the first half of the 19th century many historic the development. The project supplies water for irrigation of trails followed the North Platte River Valley. Thousands of approximately 390,000 acres that are divided into four irri- immigrants traveled through the area on the way to the west gation districts. A supplemental supply is furnished to eight coast with few stopping to settle. With the arrival of the water user associations serving a combined area of 190,000 railroad in the late 1860s and the elimination of the threat of acres. Also the aquifer created by the surface irrigation pro- Indian attack, a few years later the area became a promising vides groundwater to irrigate another 100,000 acres. site for homesteaders. With this large acreage now open to irrigation and The rush of homesteaders became quite large in the the majority of farmers in the area lacking experience in

27 Knorr-Holden Plot, Continued managing the irrigated crops grown on the sandy soils of the higher than the non-manured plots. The yearly manure appli- valley, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) cations from 1953 to the present have increased soil nitrogen soon recognized that new techniques were needed to be de- and organic matter levels to the point that they now exceed veloped to successfully farm the newly irrigated lands. To what the native sod had when first plowed in 1912. facilitate research and disseminate information to area farm- Valuable information has been collected from this ers, an agricultural experiment station was established in the plot over the years and much more can be collected in the area. future. This type of information can only be collected from In 1910, the USDA, in cooperation with the Nebras- plots that are long-term in design. Continuous research ka Experiment Station, created the Scottsbluff Experiment plots, however, are rare because they require a commitment Substation on 160 acres of unclaimed land six miles east of Mitchell, Nebraska. The Office of Western Agriculture, USDA, managed the station until 1948 when the land and management was turned over to the University of Nebraska. The Scotts Bluff Ag Lab is currently part of the University of Nebraska Pan- handle Research and Extension Center. The native short grass prairie was broken out in 1910 and the next spring the land was seeded to oats. Then in 1912 under the supervision of Fritz Knorr, the first superintendent of the station, anex- tensive series of both irrigated and dryland rotation experiments were begun. In 1917, James A. Holden became the second station superintendent to supervise the rotation plots. Under his supervision the foundation was set for the rotation plots to become a long-term project. The rotation plots were continued until 1941 when all but the continuous corn plots were discontinued. From 1942 A load of manure is spread on the Knorr-Holden plot. to the present, the corn plots have been maintained as a study by itself. Over the years, the data collected from this plot has for generations past and future. We appreciate the efforts of been presented at national meetings and published in many Mr. Frank Anderson and others who supervised the plots for bulletins and scientific journals. From the time of establish- many years when the value of long-term research was not as ment to the present, at least three dozen scientists and gradu- well understood as it is today. ate students have been involved in the plot. At the present time, over 700,000 acres are irrigated The data collected from the plot has proven that con- in the Panhandle of Nebraska, and of that, 310,000 acres are tinuous corn can be successfully grown in western Nebraska in corn. The average corn yield in 1914 was about 60 bush- and that manuring is a valuable practice in maintaining soil els per acres; the average today is 160 bushels per acres. productivity. It has shown that N fertilization alone was ca- These statistics show the value of corn to the area and the pable of restoring most of the production capacity of the soil. improvement that research has made. The practice of manuring greatly improved the physical con- The Knorr-Holden plot is one of the five oldest condition of the soil. Initiation of N fertilization resulted in a tinuous field crop experiments in the United States. Itis much more rapid recovery of yield than did the initiation of also the oldest irrigated corn plot, and the third oldest corn manuring. In the first year of N fertilization on non-manured research plot in North America and possibly the world. Two non-fertilized soil, yields reached a level that required ten other continuous field experiments, the Morrow Plots at the years of manuring to attain. Protein levels in the corn grain University of Illinois and Sanborn Field at the University of have been consistently highest on manured treatments at all Missouri, received National Historic Landmark designation but the 160 lb/A nitrogen fertilizer rate. Cultivation without in the 1960’s. To date, only three long-term research plots manuring or N fertilization decreased the soil N content to were listed in the National Register of Historic Places: the 40% of the native content after 30 years of continuous corn Magruder Plots, in Oklahoma (listed 1979); the Old Rota- production. In the plots receiving manure treatments, the tion at Auburn University (listed 1988); and the Knorr-Hold- soil N content has increased to 147 percent of the level pres- en plots at Scottsbluff, Nebraska 1992. ent in the soil in its native condition. Also organic matter in The Knorr-Holden Plot was conceived when the the top 12 inches of soil in the manured plots was 68 percent first large scale irrigation projects were under construction 28 Knorr-Holden Plot, Continued

Local producers gather at the Knorr-Holden plot for a recent field day.

in the North Platte Valley of western the National Register of Historic Plac- Nebraska. The state, and most of the es on June 11, 1992. The register is the intensively cropped areas of the west federal government’s official list of his- Scientists Who Have are highly dependent on irrigation. toric properties worth of preservation. Supervised the Plot The Knorr-Holden Continuous Corn Properties with significant historical Plot was developed in response to a importance that meet certain criteria Fritz Knorr need to determine the best methods of are eligible for nomination to the Fed- James A. Holden farming the newly developed irrigated eral Register. The process of including Lionel Harris land of western Nebraska. Since it properties in the National Register of Vance Pumphrey was established in 1912, the Knorr- Historic Places is designed with sev- Ray Allmaraas Holden plot has been a significant part eral levels of review at both state and Orlando Howe of the research conducted at the Pan- national levels. These reviews follow Delbert Larson handle Research and Extension Center an orderly and systematic process that Frank Anderson and continues to yield valuable infor- requires extensive research and docu- David Baltensperger mation on the long-term effects of soil mentation of the nominated property. Greg Binford management practices. This process was begun in the fall of Jurg Blumenthal The Knorr-Holden Continu- 1991 and was successfully concluded Gary Hergert ous Corn Plot was officially listed in in June of 1992.

29 Centennial Profile: Development of Irrigation

By C. Dean Yonts, Irrigation Management Specialist Panhandle Research and Extension Center The Bureau of Reclamation completed construction of the Pathfinder Irrigation Dam in 1909, which opened the North Platte Valley project to irrigation. It didn’t take long for the Department of Agriculture to realize that farmers were going to need help establishing proper irrigation practices. In 1910 the Scotts Bluff Experiment Substation, now known as the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, was established. By the summer of 1912, a number of crop rotation experiments, including both dryland and irrigated crops, were established. Irrigated crop production continued to be a significant part of the research and over the next 20 years, experiments were conducted to determine where crops obtained water in the soil and how much water crops needed. In subsequent years, weighing lysimeters were used to determine daily crop water use values. These experiments provided the basis for modern day irrigation scheduling. When the Scotts Bluff Experiment Station cele- In this photo from the UNL Panhandle Center ar- brated its 50th anniversary in 1960, three specific projects chives, an unidentified worker irrigates a field in June related to irrigation were described. One of these was con- 1913 using a collapsible canvas dam. ducted by Orlando.W. Howe, a USDA Irrigation Engineer, who wanted to “find out how the effects of a limited amount sisted of benches having level cross slope and a gentle field of water applied at the proper time and at proper intervals slope, each separated by a grass berm. The system allowed would compare with less discriminate use of irrigation wa- uniform application of irrigation water while keeping runoff ter.” It seems the concern to conserve water was as prevalent and soil erosion to a minimum. 100 years ago as it is today. Although hybrids have changed Lionel Harris stated that “While it is not an entirely drastically over the years, current experiments are achiev- new development to the farmers in western Nebraska, the ing similar results to Howe’s, indicating that the concept of gently sloping level benches seem almost out of place from limiting the amount of irrigation water applied can result in the air, where you are accustomed to seeing square and rect- economically profitable crop yields. angular patches of land.” The idea never caught on in this In another study, Norris P. Swanson, an agricultur- area, but the superintendent had no way of knowing at that al engineer with the university, used a “specially designed time that an even bigger change was coming to the land- sprinkler system to spray artificial rain” to study the impact scape as a result of changing irrigation practices. As peo- of rainfall on runoff and soil erosion. Part of his results indi- ple flew through the air, they wondered what these strange cated that on nearly level benches no soil erosion occurred perfectly round circles amongst the square and rectangular as the excess water drained slowly from the field. This ex- fields could be. Those circles turned out to be fields irrigated periment was conducted on different crops and field slopes with a system called a center pivot. and it was determined that runoff and soil erosion was much In 1952, Frank Zybach patented the center pivot, re- greater on fields having steeper slopes. Similar studies were sulting in an enormous change in the practice of irrigation. conducted in the early 1980s and compared runoff and soil It wasn’t until the late 1960s and early 70s that center pivots erosion from fields established using different tillage sys- in western Nebraska really started to appear. At first, pivots tems. were installed on the tablelands north and south of the valley The creative thinking that brought about these types and used groundwater. In the North Platte Valley, irrigators of studies additionally contributed to developing the “big ex- ran surface water from Pathfinder Dam down furrows, and periment” as described by then Superintendent Lionel Har- there was no need for a sprinkling machine. ris. This project involved a number of researchers, cost $150 During the late 1980s work on surface irrigation per acre to establish and furthermore showed a net profit. It systems continued, as over 60 percent of the irrigated acres was considered to potentially have far-reaching effects on in Nebraska used furrow irrigation. Experiments during that all irrigated land in western Nebraska. Harris’ design con- period concentrated on methods to improve furrow irriga-

30 Irrigation, Continued tion efficiency. The university extensively studied a new method of furrow irrigation called surge. This system used a solar powered butterfly valve to automatically turn water on and off between two irrigation sets. The short cycle times and the wetting and drying of the furrows reduced the soil infiltration rate, increased advance time, increased application uniformity and reduced runoff. Although surge irrigation is a viable alternative for many furrow irrigators today, the biggest changes are still occurring with the pivot. Between 2000 and 2010, furrow- irrigated acres in the North Platte Valley were converted to center pivots at a rate of approximately 10,000 acres per year. The valley growers did not give up their surface water rights, but rather dug small pits from which they diverted the surface water supply and then pumped it through the irrigation system. Since the 1960s, a number of additional researchers have contributed to advancing irrigation practices. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, David Fonken, extension irrigation specialist, worked on an experiment to determine the water- use rate of sugarbeets using a sprinkler system at the university’s Northwest Ag Lab near Alliance. Walter L. Trimmer was the extension irrigation specialist in the early 1970s. Some of Trimmer’s work dealt with setting up weather stations throughout the Panhandle to provide crop-water use information to irrigators using a phone-in irrigation hotline. During this same time, Robert Edling, the research irrigation engineer, monitored flow in the irrigation canals to determine conveyance losses to help irrigation districts improve their delivery efficiency. In 1980, C. Dean Yonts was hired as the research/ex- Top: A center pivot is used to study impact of crop wa- tension irrigation engineer. In addition to his earlier work on ter stress. Bottom: A surge valve is used to improve surge irrigation, he more recently has studied the impact of furrow irrigation efficiency.

limited irrigation similar to Howe’s work in the late 1950s. Yonts has concentrated on trying to define the impact on yield of sugarbeets and dry beans when irrigation is withheld during different stages of growth. He has also taken advantage of a newer type of irrigation system and has conducted deficit irrigation with corn using subsurface drip irrigation. This article is intended to illustrate the creative and extensive nature of irrigation research conducted in western Nebraska for the past 100 years. Although progression and improvements appear to have been rapid, many of the changes have occurred only when economic situations were right and when an individual was ready to make a change. As a result, center pivots can now be controlled by comput- ers and cell phones, yet there are still fields that are irrigated using dams and siphon tubes. With the progression of any system, the challenges and rewards are great. However, it is only when we stop to look back that one truly sees the Research data: The effect of season-long deficit ir- advancements that are the results of many peoples’ lifetime rigation on yield of sugarbeets. work.

31 Centennial Profile: Dry Bean Breeding Program

By Dr. Carlos A. Urrea, Dry Bean Breeding Specialist Panhandle Research and Extension Center

Past The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dry Bean Breeding Program started in 1961, when Dermot Coyne (Plant Breeder) visited a field of great northern beans (cultivar Nebraska #1) at Scottsbluff and made selections for bacterial blight. One of the first lines developed was Nebraska 1 Sel. No. 27, a line widely used in U.S. bean growing regions as a source of common bacterial blight. The Univer- sity of Idaho Agricultural Research Station and the USDA introduced great northern UI No. 59 and 1140 in 1960. Both cultivars were susceptible to common bacterial blight and bacterial wilt. The Nebraska dry bean breeding program has contributed to the private and public sector with several lines released as germplasm with resistance to various diseases impacting bean growers in the Midwest and in the Domini- can Republic, where USAID supported a collaborative bean improvement project. Coyne’s first releases, the great north- Seed increase, disease screening, and developing of ern cultivars Tara, Jules, and Harris, are common bacterial new hybrid combinations are carried out in the green- blight resistant germplasm. Starlight, a bright white seeded house at the Panhandle Research and Extension great northern released in 1991, has the Ur-3 rust resistant Center. gene and good avoidance of white mold. Emerson, which the value of Chase, during its five year commercial life in has a large bright white seed coat, was released in 1971 and the US at $5 million. In cooperation with the University of has resistance to bacterial wilt, halo blight, brown spot, and Puerto Rico and the Secretary of Agriculture in the Domini- bean common mosaic. The pinto cultivar Chase, released in can Republic, through the USAID/Bean/Cowpea CRSP, the 1993, has resistance to halo blight, bacterial brown spot, rust, UNL breeding program released Arroyo Loro, PC50, Anaca- moderate resistance to common bacterial blight, moderate ona, Negro Sureño, JB-17B, Arroyo Loro Negro, CIAS-95, avoidance of white mold, and resistance to potato leafhopper and Saladin-97. In honor of Coyne’s contributions, a new injury. Richard Perrin, an agricultural economist, estimated variety DPC-40 using Coyne’s initials has been released this year. Coyne’s career studies into the genetics of resistance to the bacterial blight pathogen in common beans culminated in major impacts on bean production in Nebraska as well as Africa and the Americas. He published pioneering work on the effect that photoperiod and temperature had on plant response to bacterial blight. He made the crucial discovery that bean pods and leaves react differently to both the common blight and halo blight pathogens, which means that selection for resistance must be made in both pods and leaves. Dermot Coyne advised and guided 43 graduate students. Use of DNA for parental analysis: DNA samples, shown here in an amplified view, are separated and Transition stained so markers are visible as bands. Every lane Coyne retired in 2001, and Plant Pathologist Jim is a DNA sample from a different bean plant. Lane 2 Steadman advanced and intercrossed elite lines from many and 3 are the female (P1) and maile (P2) used for the American bean breeding programs. The germplasm devel- hybrid cross. Individuals from lane 4 to 10 are proge- oped over the years have been important to the current bean nies from the cross of P1 x P2. Lane 4 to 10 carry the breeding program. second band from the bottom (*) as the male (P2). 32 Dry Bean Breeding, Continued

Present germplasm; Because of the difficulty of maintaining a large, ef- and 4) to collect data to help with the release of great fective breeding program at the Panhandle REC from the northern and pinto dry bean germplasm/cultivars. In addi- University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus 400 miles away, the tion, to screen breeding lines for molecular DNA markers. dry bean breeding position was moved in 2005 from Lincoln to Scottsbluff, aided by a recommendation from Dermot Specific Projects Completed or in Progress Coyne and with support from the Nebraska Dry Bean Indus- Recently, the Nebraska dry bean breeding program try. This placed the bean breeder specialist near the center has released two germplasm accessions, ABCP-8 and ABC- Weihing, pinto and great northern, respectively, with enhanced common bacterial blight resistance. Both accessions have been used by public and private breeders not only in the USA but in Mexico. In 2008, a great northern cultivar named Coyne was released, named in honor of Dermot P. Coyne. This cultivar was bred specifically for adaptation to the common bean growing conditions of Nebraska and for enhanced resistance to common bacterial blight, a major disease of common bean, and for improved resistance to common bean rust. Coyne has high yield potential, broad adaptation to western Nebraska, good seed quality and resistance to bean common mosaic virus. Seed increase in under way. The program is also working on identification of bacterial wilt resistance in common bean germplasm. Study Dr. Carlos Urrea, dry bean breeding specialist, speaks of the genetics and mapping the genes for bacterial wilt re- to a group of high-school students in the greenhouse. sistance are in progress. Chickpea trials under chemical and non chemical control to assess yield effects due to Ascochy- ta blight incidence are also being investigated. Several bulks of dry bean production in western Nebraska. Dry bean pro- selected for Ascochyta blight resistance are showing promis- duction is scattered across 26 counties in western Nebraska, ing results for eventual variety development. with 11 counties in the Panhandle accounting for the largest The University of Nebraska dry bean breeding pro- share of the crop. Scotts Bluff, Box Butte, and Morrill coun- gram has been collaborating with Colorado, North Dakota, ties, account for nearly half of Nebraska’s dry bean produc- and Michigan through the Mid-West Regional Performance tion. Carlos A. Urrea joined the program in April 2005. Nursery (MRPN), and recently with Idaho, Washington, and Objectives of the Nebraska Dry Bean Breeding Pro- Colorado through the Western Regional Bean Trial (WRBT). gram are: Collaboration with Tim Porch (USDA-TARS-PR) and Steve 1) to develop and select improved high-yielding Beebe [International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)] great northern, pinto, light red kidney, cranberry, black, and on drought studies has also been implemented. small red bean cultivars/germplasm for western Nebraska with multiple disease resistance. This includes selecting Contributions to western Nebraska economy for plants that have upright plant architecture, earliness (95 ProVita Inc., which sells most of the seed used by days), and high quality seed; Nebraska growers, has seen the following results with their 2) to develop disease resistance. Exotic dry bean varieties (varieties patented in the last 5 years) which incor- germplasm is screened for resistance to the most limiting porated public developed germplasm: varieties incorporat- diseases in the Panhandle (common bacterial blight, rust, ing germplasm developed at the University of Nebraska are bean common mosaic, and white mold). Material found re- planted on 42,000 acres, and varieties incorporating germ- sistant through these screens is then recombined with our plasm developed at both Michigan State University and the elite bean lines through crosses to develop lines with disease University of Nebraska are planted on 150,000 acres. These resistance; acres are responsible for gross revenue of about $99 million, 3) to introgress drought tolerance into Nebraska elite based on average yields and process as of early 2010.

33 Centennial Profile: Dryland Crop Research in Western Nebraska

By Dr. Drew Lyon, Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist Charles Fenster was hired by the university in 1956 and Panhandle Research and Extension Center appointed to a newly created position to study the total management system for winter wheat production. He began his On April 7, 1967, the U.S. Government made available university career at the Northwest Agricultural Laboratory to the University of Nebraska 2,410 acres of land, which had near Alliance. His headquarters were moved to the Pan- been part of the Sioux Army Ordnance Depot, for agricultur- handle Station near Scottsbluff in 1967. Fenster was known al research and educational purposes. The work of the Chey- internationally for his work with stubble-mulch and no-till enne County Rural Area Development (RAD) Committee, conservation tillage systems. He and Dr. Gary Peterson, soil largely through its crops committee, was instrumental in get- scientist in Lincoln, established the Long-Term Tillage plots ting the Laboratory established. The officers of this crops in 1969 at the HPAL. These plots compare various tillage committee were: Ralph Spearow, president; Ray Cruise, vice regimes (moldboard plow, stubble-mulch, and chemical) president; and Harold Tremain, secretary. The need for the field laboratory was underscored in 1964 when there was a severe outbreak of black stem rust, wheat streak mosaic, and crown and root rot of wheat in the Panhandle of Nebraska. In the same year it was announced that the Depart- ment of Defense was phasing out the Sioux Army Ordnance Depot. The RAD Commit- tee immediately explored the possibility of utilizing some of the land and facilities for an “experiment station”. After extended negotiations, the Gov- ernment issued an interim use permit for the University to initiate operations (the deed was issued August 1970). On April 17, 1967, Ray Cruise and Colonel Williams drew a symbolic furrow on what had now been named the High Plains Agricultural Labora- tory (HPAL). Thus, after much effort, time, and travel expenses by the members, RAD Lt. Col. Cyril Williams. commander of the Sioux Army Depot, and Ray had succeeded in getting the Laboratory es- Cruise plow the first furrow at the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory tablished. on April 17, 1967. When the RAD Committee was ter- minated on July 1, 1971, Director John L. Weihing of the Panhandle Station prevailed upon the mem- during the fallow portion of a winter wheat-fallow rotation bers to become the advisory group for the HPAL. The HPAL on winter wheat production and soil quality. More than forty Advisory Board continues to provide valuable input and years later, these plots continue to result in new knowledge support to the HPAL. about the effects of fallow tillage on soil quality. Fenster Under the guidance of Charles Fenster, a research pro- also worked with colleagues in weed science on some of gram was initiated immediately upon the University’s ob- the first chemical fallow work with atrazine, paraquat, and taining possession of the Sioux Army Depot property. The glyphosate. Professor Fenster retired in 1982 after a distin- emphasis of his program was on the efficient use of soil and guished career at the Panhandle Station. water and optimizing crop yields under the semiarid condi- Over the next eight years, three individuals led the dry- tions prevailing in the High Plains. This has remained the land cropping systems program in the Panhandle. They were focus of the dryland cropping systems effort. The research Dr. Mark Hooker (1983), Dr. John Havlin (1984-1985), and program has grown in extent and depth since its inception, Dr. Duane Martin (1986-1988). and today is recognized internationally for its many and con- In 1990, Dr. Drew Lyon was hired to lead this program. tinuing accomplishments. Dr. Lyon emphasized cropping system intensification and di-

34 Dryland Crop Research, Continued versification to reduce the frequency of summer fallow, increase precipitation use efficiency, reduce the risk of soil erosion, and break weed, disease, and insect pest cycles of winter wheat. Dr. Lyon was named the first Fen- ster Distinguished Professor of Dry- land Agriculture in 2008. This professorship was the first at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln established for faculty not located on the main campus in Lincoln. The professorship was established with a $250,000 gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation from Charles and Eunice Fenster. Dr. Lyon worked closely with Dr. David Baltensperger through 2006 when he left to become a Department Head at Texas A&M University, and then subsequently with Dr. Dipak San- tra, both of whom served in the role of Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist, to identify promising crops that could be profitably incorporated into dryland crop rotations. Proso millet, sunflower, and corn are now grown as an integral part of the crop rotation on a significant number of dryland acres that previously produced only wheat in a winter Charles Fenster inspecting winter wheat stubble in a chemical fallow field in 1974. wheat-fallow rotation.

35 Centennial Profile: Entomology Research in Western Nebraska

By Gary L. Hein, Former Extension Entomologist and extension efforts were targeted at establishing threshold, Panhandle Research and Extension Center sampling, and control recommendations to manage this seri- Now Director of UNL Doctor of Plant Health Program ous threat. Later efforts have also documented the importance of natural enemies in limiting the continued serious- Entomology was established early in the history of ness of this pest. Panhandle Research and Extension Center with numerous In 1993, serious wheat streak mosaic infections in insect studies occurring during the first 50 years. These ef- Cheyenne County brought about efforts to investigate the vi- forts encompassed numerous insects, but focused on potato rus’s vector, the wheat curl mite. Extensive research efforts insect pests. Studies were undertaken by entomologists who have provided better understanding of the mite’s ecology primarily spent summers or shorter periods working in the and movement and have resulted in improved recommenda- Panhandle. Their work had a significant impact on the potato tions for managing the mite and virus. In addition, efforts industry, but also impacted other agricultural commodities to screen resistant varieties have resulted in the release of through the development of cultural and chemical recommendations for managing numerous pests.

Full-time entomologist In the late 1950s, the importance of entomology research was recognized and an entomologist became one of the few disciplines to warrant a full-time position. Art Hagan began at the Panhandle Station in 1957, and his responsibilities at first were predominately research. However, once in the position, the demand from clientele for information resulted in his becoming more involved in extension, and his efforts eventually developed into a split assignment in both research and extension. Hagan provided support for all aspects of entomological expertise. He became the expert on western bean cutworm on corn and dry beans in the 1960s, as this insect became established as an important pest on these two crops in the region. Hagan also made an impact through his work Severity of Russian wheat aphid damage seen after on the identification, feeding and management of grasshop- introduction of the insect in the late 1980s. pers, one of the most important insect problems in western Nebraska. He generated information on the management of numerous other insect pests of sugarbeet, dry beans, and other crops. Hagan provided consistent entomological expertise Mace, a variety with much improved virus resistance. for the Panhandle until 1987, when he moved to North Platte Another new pest of wheat was found in the Panhan- to become survey entomologist. dle in the mid 1990s. The wheat stem sawfly became a serious issue in fields along the Wyoming border. Investigations Changing Pest Issues into the timing of emergence of the insect led to recommen- Through the years insect pest issues in the Panhan- dations for managing this insect. However, this insect slowly dle have constantly evolved. The Russian wheat aphid was continues to spread into additional wheat growing areas in introduced into Nebraska in 1987, and the rapid occurrence western Nebraska. of this devastating pest was an important stimulus for the hiring of the next entomologist in 1988. Gary Hein began Dry Dean Insects as entomologist at the Panhandle Center in 1988 with a 50 Beginning in the mid-1990s, mild winter conditions percent research and 50 percent extension appointment. led to the Mexican bean beetle becoming a more serious pest of dry beans in the North Platte Valley. Research has estab- Wheat lished an egg mass sampling plan, improved thresholds, and The severity of the Russian wheat aphid in the late better understanding of the insect’s biology and manage- 1980s required a rapid response (photo at right). Research ment.

36 Entomology, Continued

Western bean cutworm has been an important pest brought about extensive effort to establish the value of resis- across the region in both dry beans and corn. Efforts in the tant varieties and develop better aphid screening procedures. 1960s began to uncover important aspects of the biology of The result was an increased emphasis on the use of varieties the insect. Research through the last 15 years has increased resistant to the aphid and better management recommenda- our knowledge and helped to improve the efficiency of man- tions. agement of this insect in both crops. Recent movement of this insect into the central and eastern Corn Belt has increased Insect Diversity the importance of this insect and increased the impact of the Numerous other insect pests have been studied through the years in an effort to maintain effective and up- to-date recommendations on their management. These efforts have targeted insect pests that affect both commonly grown crops as well as some of the specialty crops being developed and grown in the region. In addition, the Center entomologist deals with the public in identifying and explaining often dramatic occurrences of insect issues in the Panhandle. Many of these insect issues are unique to the region, and they can often be spectacular. Perhaps the most impressive insect invasions that occur in western Nebraska are the cyclical infestations of grasshopper hoards. But one of the more troublesome insect events in the Panhandle is the annual migration of “millers” to the mountains. The migration is often preceded by invasions of crops, gardens and/or buildings by the millers’ immature form, the army cutworm (see photo at left). Amazing entomological invasions have occurred from time to time, including the carabid beetle invasion of downtown Sidney, mayflies that descended on Scottsbluff, or the almost regular infestations of houses by a series of nuisance invad- Rangeland devastation (note light vs. green areas) ers. The often spectacular flights of dispersing winged ants caused by army cutworm in Sioux county. in late summer after a significant rain stirs questions of potential invasions, but more practically, the cleaning of greasy windshields. The diversity of insect occurrences in the panhan- work done on the western Nebraska pest. dle keeps the entomologist’s job interesting with no lack of Sugarbeet Insects problems to pursue. The torch of entomological research and A serious insect problem in sugarbeets was first ob- extension work has recently been passed (January 2010) to served in the North Platte Valley with the introduction of Jeff Bradshaw, who became only the third entomologist to the sugarbeet root maggot in the late 1970s. Research efforts work in the Panhandle in the last 50 years. in the 1980s and 90s identified the extent of the spread of Through the years, the efforts of the entomologist the maggot and management options. Further understanding have been supported by numerous technicians and summer of the biology of the maggot has explained the recent re- students. These individual have contributed greatly to these ductions of this insect since 2000 due to drought conditions accomplishments. During the last 22 years, a trio of techni- and the potential for the return of the problem with adequate cians (Rick Patrick, John Thomas, and Susan Harvey) has spring rains. combined for over 50 years of service to the entomological Serious infestations of sugarbeet root aphid in 1997 efforts in the Panhandle.

37 Centennial Profile: Human Nutrition

By Dr. Linda Boeckner, Former Nutrition Specialist, Now Director of Panhandle Research and Extension Center

Like some other areas of specialization, work in human nutrition research and extension education has become a more recent component of the work done at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center. Dr. Linda Boeckner arrived as the first nutrition specialist and Home Economics Program Coordinator for the Panhandle District in January 1987. In the initial years program responsibilities were divided, with three-fourths of the effort going toward developing community nutrition education and wellness programs for the Pan- handle District and statewide, and one-fourth of effort working with county-based extension educators to coordinate the delivery of family-based programming in the District. Projects included development and educational delivery of curricula focused on weight wellness, nutrition, fit- ness, and youth, Eating Today for a Healthier Tomorrow, and ABCs for Good Health delivered to participants in the Every Woman Matters Program, a statewide cervical and breast cancer screening program. Collaborations were formed also include 25 percent responsibility for nutrition research. with local community health coalitions and eventually re- Boeckner joined a multi-state research team consisting of lationships were formed with the Panhandle Partnership for faculty from 10 other states to conduct research in nutrition Health and Human Services. behavior change among young adults who received tailored As program coordinator, Boeckner initiated child nutrition messages. This work had implications for the deliv- care and early childhood education conferences in the Pan- ery of nutrition education within extension systems and the handle District as a way of building educational expertise of factors that drive decision making when nutritional changes child care providers and enhancing professionalism within are advised. Another research focus was a collaborative ef- child care. Exploring multiple ways to deliver educational fort on a University of Nebraska Medical Center College materials was integral to nutrition program development. of Nursing project to reach post-menopausal women with Some of the delivery methods explored included interactive tailored educational messages to help them make healthful website programs, asynchronous website learning, podcast- lifestyle changes in eating and physical activity behaviors. ing, webinars as well as serial classroom education and edu- Both projects are on-going to the present time. cational conferences. Master Preserver classes to train vol- Dr. Lisa Franzen-Castle joined the UNL Panhandle unteers on food preservation were coordinated and offered Research and Extension Center faculty in September 2009 in the early years. In the late 1990s the program coordinator respon- as the nutrition specialist, and is continuing the statewide sibilities of the position were dropped as the statewide ex- and district work in nutrition education program develop- tension system moved more toward statewide action teams. ment and delivery. Her work in adaptation and acceptance Boeckner was a co-leader of a statewide action team focused of nutritional behaviors among new immigrant populations on preventive health and wellness education which later will be useful in a state that has a growing number of new transitioned to nutrition, health and food safety. In 2001, the immigrants and which is changing the face of Nebraska cli- position was changed from 100 percent Extension focus to entele.

38 Centennial Profile: Alternative Crop Breeding Program

By Dipak K. Santra, Alternative Crop Breeding Specialist diversity was the key to success for alternative crops and Panhandle Research and Extension Center their limited, niche markets. During his 18-year career, he tested about 20-25 different crops, which included various Agricultural scientists at Scotts Bluff Experiment millets, oil-seed crops, grasses, forages, and grain legumes Station, now known as the Panhandle Research and Exten- in western Nebraska. Baltensperger developed four white sion Center, recognized the need of alternative crops to di- proso varieties (Earlybird, Huntsman, Sunrise and Horizon), versify dryland farming systems in western Nebraska. Proso which are popular and most extensively grown today. The millet was recognized as one of the most effective alterna- most significant contribution of Baltensperger was his initiative crops and research was initiated in the early 1960s.

Prior to 1970: In the early 1960s, Phil Grabouski first initiated proso millet research at Scotts Bluff Experiment Station in conjunction with Glen Vemeier at North Platte Station (now West Central Research and Extension Center). Together they developed the first white proso millet (variety Pan- handle) for western Nebraska in 1967. In 1968, a separate proso millet breeding program was initiated by two specialists who worked about two years.

1970 – 1987 In 1970, Lenis Nel- son began the real proso millet breeding at Scotts Bluff Station. He developed the first red proso millet variety Cerise followed by three white-seeded varieties: Progress of proso millet variety development at the UNL Panhandle Research Dawn, Rise, and Sunup. Dawn and Extension Center since its initial inception. was the most popular variety and it served as a common parent for future proso millet variety improvement. Since more crop tive in developing waxy proso millet. diversity was needed in western Nebraska, Nelson also initi- 2008 - onwards ated research on other alternative crops like dryland corn, Dipak K. Santra joined the Panhandle Center to di- sorghum, other millets (pearl, finger, and foxtail), sunflower, rect the alternative crops breeding program in 2008. He en- and edible amaranth. He worked for 17 years at the Center visions integrating novel traits available within proso millet before moving to Lincoln to direct crops variety testing and germplasm (PI lines) through molecular breeding to develop extension program for the University of Nebraska. high-yielding varieties for alternative uses of the millet (such as fuel or food). Santra foresees the development of alterna- 1988 – 2006 tive crops with biodiesel potential to meet the challenges of Soon after Nelson’s departure, David Baltensperger fossil fuel shortage in 21st century. In the era of biotechnol- took charge of the alternative crops breeding program in ogy, it may not take a decade before western Nebraska farm- 1988 at the PREC. Since the proso millet market was lim- ers can grow these high-valued alternative crops that Santra ited due to its exclusive use as bird seed, he realized that envisions.

39 Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperat- ing with the Counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.